Remote Work the New Norm?
The COVID-19 crisis has forced many people to work remotely. However, remote working may not necessarily end with the crisis. According to a Gartner Inc. survey, 74% of CFOs will move a minimum of 5% of their on-site work to remote locations after the crisis.
Even though many companies managed to adopt remote working in a short period, it still poses plenty of challenges that business managers may have trouble overcoming. The successful implementation of remote work demands that businesses invest a lot of time and effort in their new corporate culture and cost management.
Value of Remote Working Post COVID 19
With remote working, companies get to save money on operational costs in the long term. They get a chance to implement new sustainability solutions. Some of the most apparent benefits of remote working include smaller office space, shorter breaks, and fewer business trips.
Remote workers are unlikely to take extended leaves of absence due to illness. Remote working could have a positive influence on companies’ remuneration systems.
Remote working allows employees to enjoy a new level of flexibility. They can continue to work even when other unexpected events come up. When employees know that they have the resources to work remotely in times of future crisis, they may improve their productivity and cohesion. ‘
Remote working helps employees minimize their commuting time. They can avoid the stress and inconvenience of getting to and from work. Avoiding stress could improve their productivity and reduce absenteeism. It, in turn, gives your business a significant boost. Employees get to spend their money on things that are important to them instead of transport costs. As a result, they may be happier and more motivated.
After the COVID 19 crisis, remote working may improve a company’s employee retention. Losing valuable employees is one of the biggest challenges that a company could face. Even with a good salary, employees are always looking for employers that have something more to offer. The provision for remote working could be all you need to keep your employees happy and willing to work for you.
It may be an effective way to access a wide pool of applicants. Young professionals prefer flexible work environments and an excellent work-life balance. Offering remote working as a benefit of working for you helps you attract young, skilled professionals that would usually not be interested in your organization.
While working from home, companies must rely on technology. It forces them to adopt better use of technology. It is the backbone of remote working since employees require fast Wi-Fi, cloud computing, and project management software.
Companies that invest in remote working during and after the crisis have a lot to look forward to. Even though it is not yet possible to determine the full consequences of the investment, it is safe to say that it can take any business to the next level.
Challenges of Remote Working
Even though remote working is great, it poses a few challenges. Some of the significant obstacles in the implementation of remote working include:
- Traditionally, companies managed all their operations centrally. However, remote working poses new challenges. Securing infrastructure that remote workers use can be a challenge.
- Implementing remote working is not always easy. most companies can find it to be more challenging than it seems
- Remote workers may have trouble balancing their personal and work lives. During the adoption stage, the blurred lines between work and private life can reduce productivity.
In conclusion, remote working has lots of potential. With its benefits, many companies are likely to adopt it after the COVID 19 crisis. For sure, remote working is here to stay.
Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Skilled in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), IT Service Management, Team Building, IT Strategy, and Management. Strong entrepreneurship professional with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) focused in Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management from Humboldt University of Berlin (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin).
